Atuação do enfermeiro frente às incapacidades físicas provocadas pela hanseníase.

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious disease, chronic, with tropism for cells of the dermal tissue and peripheral nerve cells. It is considered curable, although it is not done early treatment, can evolve with permanent disabilities and deformities. The areas most affected by physical disabilities are the face, especially eyes and nose, hands and feet. Aiming to broadly assess the performance of the nurse in the carrier with physical disabilities caused by leprosy, and specific, characterizing the main care and interventions performed by nurses in the monitoring and treatment of physical disabilities, and identify the main difficulties of primary care nurses monitoring and treatment of people with physical disabilities. This is a descriptive exploratory research study with a quantitative approach, performed in the city of Cajazeiras, located in the hinterland of the state of Paraiba. The sample consisted of 12 nurses from the Family Health Units of this municipality, following the criteria of inclusion and exclusion. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire consisting of questions of a socio - demographic and professional characteristics of the participants and questions about the study objectives. The results show that females still predominates in nursing, mostly young adults, married, with wage income of three minimum wages, between one and ten years of training with specialist title, linked to the service contract and not participated in courses or training on leprosy in the past two years. Regarding the general activities of the treatment of physical disabilities, it was observed that the majority did not participate in courses or training on disability, the professional who performs a neurological assessment at USF is the nurse, and the frequency of valuations are at the time of diagnosis and on. As regards the treatment of nose, eyes, hands, feet and ulcers and neurites, most said inspect, guide the conduct lubrication and cleaning, use of protection, exercises for maintaining limb, self-care, help choose the ideal footwear, accompanies the inflammatory process, makes the dressing guides the rest of the affected nerve and conducts monitoring of neural function. In cases of trichiasis care, utilization and immobilization device dorseflexor, most do not work in these activities. As for other types of actions performed by nurses, were referred to treatment of leprosy reactions, conducting group support and self-care, educational, guidance on nutritional care, referral to physiotherapy service and dermatology, active search of patients, and request additional tests to monitor rates. Regarding the difficulties prevailed nurses who confirmed to present some kind. From these results it is necessary to develop effective actions on the part of managers and nurses working in primary care, promote and participate in training for the operation and planning of effective strategies that can improve the assistance provided to people with disabilities physical.